Frank Ocean surprised fans with a new Apple Music Beats 1 Radio show called Blonded on Friday (February 24). But the show itself wasn’t the biggest headline. On the program, Jay Z addressed how pop radio has affected the way consumers are exposed to new talent as well as how it puts a restraint on artist creativity all in the name of advertising money.
As a superstar mogul, Jay Z has made an attempt to make it easier for artists to get their music out to the masses and get adequately paid for it with the acquisition of TIDAL, competing with streaming services such as Soundcloud, Spotify and ironically, Apple Music. While TIDAL as a company may have their own issues, Jay’s original objective is still admirable.
“You take these pop stations, they’re reaching 18-34 young white females,” the 47-year-old rap vet indicates. “So they’re playing music based on those tastes. And then they’re taking those numbers and they’re going to advertising agencies and people are paying numbers based on the audience that they have. So these places are not even based on music. Their playlist isn’t based on music.”
He further goes into the politics of artists trying to make it onto radio, something that most aspiring musicians dream of becoming a reality one day. He believes that as technology progresses, the relationship between musician and radio has mostly regressed since radio has become a slave to ad dollars and not music. Jigga goes on to praise Frank for being one of the artists who has maintained the integrity of his art and explains why maintaining that integrity is important.
“The more times a person like yourself can bypass that, it’s better for the arts,” he tells the singer. “And it’s better for the audience because you have to have a level of discipline or just a belief to put music out in this place where not everyone can. People, they want to shoot [to be on radio] and they’re making music that’s not really conditioned to who they are so that they can reach a certain platform.”
Jay’s sentiments come on the heels of Frank Ocean’s open letter criticizing Grammy producers Ken Ehrlich and writer David Wild, as well as the The Recording Academy as a whole, for being out of touch with today’s musical climate.
“Believe the people,” he penned in the searing letter. “Believe the ones who’d rather watch select performances from your program on YouTube the day after because your show puts them to sleep. Use the old gramophone to actually listen, bro. I’m one of the best alive. And if you’re up for a discussion about the cultural bias and general nerve damage the show you produce suffers from, then I’m all for it.”
Jay-z is guilty of this himself. He makes POP songs for Radio and he tells his artists to make “Radio friendly” songs. Listen to J.Cole on how he let Nas down and you will hear J Cole saying Jay-z was pressuring him for the “radio” hits. Frank Ocean is overrated as hell BTW.
When was the last time J.Cole made a pop song? Cole keeps it all the way 100 witch is why they don’t play him on the radio. And when was the last time Jay made a pop song? Only time I hear from him on the radio is when he dissin drake. Hov got his own music streaming service. He can put out what he want. He gettin money regardless. And on that “I let Nas down” song. Cole bring up the fact that nas the same guy that mad “oochie wally” so everybody makes pop song to get they name out there. The radio makes it worse because they only going to play pop songs and party songs. Not the songs with meaning or the songs that make you think.
The issue is to do with greed. Jay was crowned at the cost of an artist who was better than him (nas n def jam presidency issue) after he went on to cut off the throats of every rocafella artist who wasnt kissing his feet (beans freeway dipset mop noreaga etc) then he went on to “acquire” a streaming service “for musicians which he recently sold over 25% of. Then he is trying to create a war between him and every artist whose not signing to roc nation. Funk Flex was really mad at Jays ethics too . He sent Meek to try and destroy Drake . He wants to use every Khaled song to create beef . 52 years old being in his position should not be so obsessed with control but supportive of every good act in the game . Jay Z would cosign lil yatchy and mke him wear a biggie shirt if it gives him dollars #shame
There is so much wrong with this comment. I’m only going to give you half a bar. Fu©k U ni@@a
Wrong unless you’re talking about 6 years ago! The reason he acquired Tidal was so J Cole could drop the way he did with no radio hits, Kendrick can release unreleased albums and fat Joe, pap and remy can be back in their BS. Jay and all of hip hop did what they had to do but he took control of his music and distribution, basically making radio useless
Your point about jay-z is kinda true. It’s weird how a guy who was criticized his entire career for making radio hits, touring with pop acts like Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé is complaining about radio not respecting artistry like he ever was fighting for the underground. Like Wu-Tang and Gangstarr was ever all over mainstream radio. Jay-Z is a pop artist. There are tons of Britney Spears fans who love Jay-Z. I am Jay-z and Frank Ocean fan but it feels like they are a little sour cuz Drake and Weeknd is running the show now . Frank Ocean’s album was great but like Solange’s album – it’s not the album your throwing on at the BBQ. get real people
I don’t listen to the radio at all. It’s the same 7 or 8 songs played over and over. There are a bunch of good artist with real songs but you would never know it, if you only listen to the radio.
Radio all about pay for play. Why you think the same songs come on 15 times a day?
The music streaming apps like Spotify, Tidal and SoundCloud are good ways to hear new and different music. Radio sure don’t play nothing new
Jayz reminds me of that alcoholic Uncle that always tells you not to drink….smh
Anyone who drinks is stupid. Just like smoking.
Jay z has been trying to promote his artists (and nothing wrong with that) and throw shade at artists stealing market share. Who’s the biggest artist in the world right now that doesn’t fuck with jay z? Drake. Jay z does not want drake to shine. Views was music drake wanted to do which jay z acknowledged as extremely positive with frank ocean. Drake sent jay pop style and jay z put 2 bars on it and thought drake would take it with open arms. Drake did not chase the carrot and now there’s problems. Jay z has his own agenda and did not support an artist doing music he loves. Huge contradiction from the honcho of rap
If you are trying to imply Jay is jealous of Drake, I suggest you at album sales. People actually by JayZ’s music. Drake never have the sales or artistic credibility that Jay has, no matter how hard the industry tries to market his mediocre talent
Jay only dropped two bars on “Pop Styles” because he don’t rap for suckas.
@ the realness. You are correct and yes in answer to some comments here, Jay-z is totally jealous of Drake. more album sales? We all know it’s a different era now – get real. you don’t say who sold more 7-track casettes – Marvin Gaye or Jay-Z? At any rate, Jay-Z may have the respect now but when he was on top of the game, he was hated by tons so-called “real hiphop heads” just like Drake is now. You can hate Drake but folks trying to dimish Drake’s contribution or influence are kidding themselves. If you look at Jay-Z’s catologue, his biggest thing is he took Biggie’s entire approach and capitalized off of it for a longer timeframe than Biggie whereas when you look at Drake’s Take Care or So Far Gone, it changed hiphop to sing-songy rap (most of which I hate) but there is no denying that he changed hiphop whereas when Jay-Z reigned you had DMXs, Eminem and Kanye West with debatedly stronger influence. This era is mostly just Drake. (and yes, Kid cudi, kanye and Lil Wayne sang but be real, -they didn’t make sing rapping the new standard). I look at the rap charts now and all I see is guys who sound like Drake wanna-bed. Hate it or love it, Drake runs hiphop and changed it like no other. Jay-Z took the baton from Biggie after he died and ran with it.
Listening to the radio is something you do if you have no other options.
me n my friends listen to the local jazz station instead of the radio i feel you jay fuckem
I listen to sports talk. That’s the only way to hear something new every night on the radio
This is why Nas stays broke. He can’t make that suburban 18-34 year old white lady music they bump.
You’re on a roll. This is Fuck Queensbridge we love.
This the same dude who paid to get his songs on the radio and stop Nas’ getting plays back in the day? He continues to be an unlikable snake.
I listen to new shit on the radio all the time, but I also listen to a lot of College Radio.
I’m old as fuck. I came up in the Golden Age. I’ve always thought JayZ was a pop rapper. Now I think he’s even more of a bitch.
The nerve of snake Jay Z bashing radio when half of his music was geared towards radio spins. Sounds like Jay Z the snake is low key promoting Tidal on that interview. And yes Jay Z has been a pop artist for many years. Jay Z hustles everything and everybody!
wow… you did not understand a thing of what he said….. He did not say that he was not geared towards radio spins. He is saying that He had to because that’s where the radio revenue would come from. Now he has a chance to help other artists with Tidal.
Don’t worry man…. maybe you weren’t supposed to get it.
How is he helping artists make money with Tidal? No one is making money off that shit. Anyways, the implications are pretty funny, with Jay Z been and still a popular spin on radio that implies he caters his material for young white female audience. At the same time he is being inducted into the song writer Hall of Fame as the first rapper but is worried about the integrity of the art. Okay there Jay.
Camel Jay at it again. He has scummed over every artist close to him at one point or another. He is one of the executives that he talks out of the side of his mouth about. You dumb motherfuckers eat all this shit up and let him keep up this image like hes just a hustler but hes the ultimate corporate scumbag.
I be listening to Dreezy album “No Hard Feelings”. On one of the streaming apps. Her music is dope , good beats, good lyrics but she get little to no radio play. You gotta be Nicki Minaj to get some play if u a female. Like there can only be one female in rap at a time. Smh crazy
There’s nothing worse than a fake artist singing/rapping about getting some major dick. Dreezy is a low-life that sings about getting dick and that’s not the bad part… she can’t actually sing! These people are confused she also claims she’s a rapper. Dreezy and Bibi Bourelly are embarrasing as hell. They actually play Dreezy on Radio but let me ask you something. Do you know what actual singing sounds like?
(I’m one of the best alive) haha do you want to suck your own dick?, start by telling your fucking wife to stop selling booty and pop and then talk to your self about your shitty pop music
do u even read bro? that quote was from frank ocean. and even if jay were to say it, he would b correct.
bet he it da booty like groceries
Jay z more like gay z pickle ass dick weed
Spotify>Radio
I’ll jus say this, there has to be a reason why the majority of his peers (who actually know him) have so much respect and admiration for him and what he continues to do for the genre. It’s sad that my people have so much to tear down this man about, when the real culprits who actually screw these artists over gets a pass from yall all the time it’s sad.